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Alpenfest 2026
Starts: 07/14/2026 - Ends: 07/18/2026
Ever heard of "The Burning of the Boog?" There will be traditions, music, and food you have never heard of before as downtown Gaylord puts on an Alpine-inspired celebration that honors the city's heritage and partnership with sister city, Pontresina, Switzerland. The entertainment is top-notch and includes Rolling Stones and Katy Perry tribute bands, 80's rock, classic rock, country, polka and German music, and to further honor the theme, a 14-piece Bavarian style band. There will also be two parades (a walking parade and a grand parade), carnival rides, Queen and Princess pageants, a car show, a craft show, food vendors...do I need to say more? Oh, there is more! If you like to run or walk, sign up for the half marathon, 10k, 5.9k or 1-mile fun run. Grab your lederhosen (yes, you'll see those there too) and join in the fun!
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Dinosaur Weekend
Starts: 06/19/2026 - Ends: 06/21/2026
Stomp, chomp, and roar your way through a dino-mite weekend at the Gaylord KOA! Join the prehistoric party with a Dino-Dance-Bubble bash, fossil-digging adventures, and tie-dye t-shirt crafting fit for the fiercest raptors. It's a Jurassic-sized celebration full of rawr-some fun!
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Christmas in July!
Starts: 07/24/2026 - Ends: 07/26/2026
It's Christmas at the Gaylord KOA! Cookies and milk, roasting chestnuts....no, actually marshmallows over the fire, pine cone Christmas trees, a "snow" foam party, a sleigh-themed wagon ride and Christmas movie trivia are just a few of the activities Daniel & Victoria have dreamed up for you this July. Come ho-ho-ho your way through a fun weekend in the woods of Northern Michigan!
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Carnival Weekend
Starts: 06/26/2026 - Ends: 06/28/2026
Step right up, campers! Smell the popcorn? Have an urge to throw a dart at a balloon? Then you're in luck—Carnival Weekend is rolling into the Gaylord KOA! Test your skills at classic fair games, score a (temporary) ink at our tattoo booth, and take your best shot at the dunk tank—splash! It's a weekend full of giggles, prizes, and classic carnival fun you won't want to miss.
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Groovy Weekend
Starts: 08/07/2026 - Ends: 08/09/2026
Hey Sunshine! Point your magic bus to the Gaylord KOA and spread only good vibes during our Groovy 70's themed weekend! Create a tie-dye t-shirt to match those wide bell-bottom jeans, make a fab craft, boogie down during our bubble party, roast a marshmallow, make a s'more and settle in for a far out outdoor movie. It's going to be an 'outta sight' weekend. We may have gone too far with the Groovy language, so we'll end with...peace, love and granola.
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Dog Days of Summer Weekend
Starts: 09/11/2026 - Ends: 09/13/2026
This weekend is all about spoiling your dogs with tail-waggin' fun, tasty treats, and pup-approved activities. Don't miss our 2nd Annual Dog Swim—the splashiest event of the summer where your furry friend gets to rule the pool! More surprises are still in the works, but one thing's for sure: your dog won't want to miss this pawsome weekend!
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Star-Spangled Weekend!
Starts: 07/03/2026 - Ends: 07/05/2026
With July 4th being on a Thursday, that gives us a few extra days of FUN activities to do with you! We start the long weekend with a marshmallow roast, then go full steam in with a foam party, wagon rides, a pool party, tie-dye t-shirts, a bubble party, rock painting, games and more, We will also celebrate with food through the weekend, including a free continental breakfast, a weenie roast, an ice cream social, and s'mores!
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Fall-O-Ween at the Gaylord KOA
Starts: 09/18/2026 - Ends: 09/20/2026
Come enjoy all the sights, smells, sounds, and tastes of FALL at the Gaylord KOA. Decorate your campsite, go trick or treating, walk a spooky or not-so-spooky trail and enjoy a weekend's worth of themed activities!
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Memorial Day Weekend!
Starts: 05/22/2026 - Ends: 05/25/2026
Come and enjoy your Memorial Day weekend in Northern Michigan!
The Gaylord KOA will have three days of fun activities for you and your kids to enjoy. Daniel and Victoria, our Activity Coordinators, have planned food, crafts, games, wagon rides and more for you this weekend!
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Fall-O-Ween at the Gaylord KOA!
Starts: 09/25/2026 - Ends: 09/27/2026
Come enjoy all the sights, smells, sounds, and tastes of FALL at the Gaylord KOA. Decorate your campsite, go trick or treating, walk a spooky or not-so-spooky trail and enjoy a weekend's worth of themed activities!
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Bigfoot Weekend
Starts: 07/31/2026 - Ends: 08/02/2026
Get ready to stomp into fun at Big Foot Weekend! We'll have a Sasquatch-sized time with beer and wine tastings for grown-ups, a blaster battle with foam darts, and a wagon ride through Big Foot territory—keep your eyes peeled! You can join a Big Foot Hike and even snap a photo at our Big Foot Meet and Greet. We'll end the adventure with a cozy outdoor movie under the stars—perfect for the whole Big Foot-loving bunch!
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Pirate Weekend
Starts: 07/10/2026 - Ends: 07/12/2026
Ahoy matey! Batten down the hatches at home and steer your ship toward the Gaylord KOA for this Yo-ho-ho Happy weekend! Shiver me TIMBERS, we have a busy weekend planned for you. Bring a few doubleloons to tie-dye a t-shirt, mine for gold, or buy some grog at the Kampstore, but other than that the swimming pool, jumping pillow, mini-golf, playgrounds, banana bikes, cornhole, gaga pit, continental breakfast and Pirate Activities are FREE!
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Gas, Gears and Good Times Promo Tour
Starts: 06/08/2026 - Ends: 06/08/2026
The Gas, Gears & Good Times Promo Tour rolls into Gaylord, Michigan for Stop #3 of the tour on Monday, June 8, and you're invited to join the excitement! Spend the day enjoying classic cars, great food, and small-town charm before finishing the evening with a Downtown Gaylord Car Show filled with beautiful vehicles, shopping, restaurants, and community fun.
- 11:30am – 2:30pm - Mid-Day Lunch & Mini Car Show at Jim Wernig Chevrolet
- 4:00pm - 8:00pm - Car Show in Downtown Gaylord
Head to Jim Wernig Chevrolet who will have Food Trucks (participants purchase their own main course) available for lunch. The dealership will provide drinks, chips, and cookies as you walk through a mini car show featuring tour vehicles. It's the perfect chance to get up close to the cars before the evening show!Later in the afternoon, take your family downtown as the streets fill with classic cars, hot rods, and tour participants. Enjoy incredible classic and collector vehicles, as well as local restaurants, outdoor dining, and incredible shopping. Bring the family, stroll downtown, and enjoy an evening filled with cars, community, and great northern Michigan hospitality.
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Seasons of the Bear at Pigeon River Discovery Center
Starts: 08/23/2026 - Ends: 08/23/2026
Who loves learning about bears? The Pigeon River Country's Wildlife Biologist will lead you through what a year looks like for Michigan's American Black Bear. This presentation is for teens and adults. These events are popular so registration required. Just 17 minutes north of the Gaylord KOA, the PRDC is a wonderful place to spend a few hours!
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Downtown Gaylord Summer Concert Series
Starts: 05/15/2026 - Ends: 05/15/2026
Gaylord's outdoor summer music series happens every Friday night (minus Alpenfest weekend) in their iconic Alpine Village. These free, family-friendly events start at 7:00 pm in Claude Shannon Park.
If you think you'll need a break from dancing, don't forget to BYOC (bring your own chair). Drinks and food are available just steps away at Gaylord's fine eateries and breweries.
- May 15 - The Remedee
- May 22 - Serita's Black Rose
- May 29 - The Ride
- June 5 - Dig A Pony
- June 12 - The Marsupials
- June 19 - The Rupple Brothers
- June 26 - Jake Allen & TJ Rankin
- July 3 - Seth Bernard & Jordan Hamilton
- July 10 - Guys Like Us
- July 24 - Dueling Pianos
- July 31 - Tyler Roy Band
- August 7 - The Galactic Sherpas
- August 14 - Pinter Whitnick
- August 21 - MotorCity Memories
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Mushroom Foray at Pigeon River Discovery Center
Starts: 09/13/2026 - Ends: 09/13/2026
Grab your boots, pack up the family and head to the Pigeon River Discovery Center! Dianne Farner of HeadWaters Land Conservancy will start with a presentation on different types of mushrooms then take you on a hike where you can put your mushroom hunting skills on display! This is a family friendly event. These events are popular so registration required. Just 17 minutes north of the Gaylord KOA, the PRDC is a wonderful place to spend a few hours!
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Gus Macker 3 on 3 Tournament
Starts: 06/13/2026 - Ends: 06/14/2026
We are excited that the Gus Macker Tournament is returning to Gaylord for the 5th year in a row! Gus Macker tournaments are designed for basketball players who love the fun of the driveway game – male or female, from age 7 to 70-plus, short and tall, the most experienced or those with little or no experience who just want to play. Teams receive at least three scheduled games each tournament. Gus Macker is a double-elimination tournament, but with a consolation bracket historically called “The Toilet Bowl” for teams that lose the first two games. Family fun, in a festival atmosphere, is always the goal of a Gus Macker Tournament!
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Michigan's Raptors at Pigeon River Discovery Center
Starts: 06/06/2026 - Ends: 06/06/2026
Take the family to the Pigeon River Discovery Center for a free workshop to learn about the Michigan's raptors and their conservation. Kid-friendly presentation from 1-2pm, Adult focused from 3-4pm. These events are popular so registration required. Just 17 minutes north of the Gaylord KOA, the PRDC is a wonderful place to spend a few hours or the day!
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Annual Gaylord Spring Craft & Vendor Show
Starts: 05/23/2026 - Ends: 05/23/2026
Come to beautiful Northern Michigan for the 3rd Annual Spring Gaylord Craft & Vendor Show — a fun-filled spring event featuring local artisans, handmade crafts, unique gifts, home décor, and specialty foods all in one place. This family-friendly spring craft show is a great add-on to a day (or weekend!) in Gaylord!
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Memorial Day Parade in Gaylord
Starts: 05/25/2026 - Ends: 05/25/2026
Everyone loves a parade! And when the parade honors our military, it makes the experience a little richer. The parade begins and marches East down Main Street to the Memorial. VFW Post 1518 will lead the Parade, community members will carry the 20'x30' American Flag. At the Memorial, the VFW will ceremoniously fold the flag, place it on display and proceed with the ceremony. Come and be a part of this special day.
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 05/16/2026 - Ends: 05/16/2026
Visit Downtown Gaylord and head to the weekly Farmers Market at the Pavilion. This is THE place for Northern Michigan Farmers to bring their goods for sale to the public. During the Summer months, they will have flowers, jams and jellies, bread, fruits, veggies and corn and much, much more. It is also a great reason to visit the quaint shops and great restaurants in Gaylord's Alpine Village.
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Gaylord Alpen Car Show
Starts: 05/16/2026 - Ends: 05/16/2026
Come one, come all to the Gaylord Alpen Car Show - where classic and cool cars take center stage! Enjoy free entry for everyone at the Otsego County Sportsplex, no tickets needed. Bring your friends and family for a day of horsepower, chrome and community fun.
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PRC Furbearers at Pigeon River Discovery Center
Starts: 08/23/2026 - Ends: 08/23/2026
Pack up the family and head to the Pigeon River Discovery Center. The Pigeon River Country's Wildlife Biologist will teach kids about Michigan's fur bearing animals. Discover cool facts and learn how they survive in the wild. These events are popular so registration required. Just 17 minutes north of the Gaylord KOA, the PRDC is a wonderful place to spend a few hours!
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Beginners Fly Tying and Casting at Pigeon River Country
Starts: 07/18/2026 - Ends: 07/18/2026
Curious about fly tying? Want to practice your casting with a expert? Head to the Pigeon River Discovery Center and learn a few things from Byron Lamphear and Mark Jarvie from Headwaters Trout Unlimited. Craft your very own summer dry fly. This event is for beginners ages 14+. These events are popular so registration required. Just 17 minutes north of the Gaylord KOA, the PRDC is a wonderful place to spend a few hours or the day!
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Native Plants & Nature Hike at Pigeon River Discovery Center
Starts: 06/20/2026 - Ends: 06/20/2026
Take the family to the Pigeon River Discovery Center and learn about the Michigan's native plants and take a short hike to try out your skills on identifying local flora. Take home a free native plant. Kid-friendly (ages 6-12) presentation will run tandem with this event. These events are popular so registration required. Just 17 minutes north of the Gaylord KOA, the PRDC is a wonderful place to spend a few hours or the day!
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All About Bats at Pigeon River Discovery Center
Starts: 08/01/2026 - Ends: 08/01/2026
Grab a jacket and your family and head to an evening presentation 'All About Bats' at the Pigeon River Discovery Center. The folks from Discover Bats Ohio will have hand-held sensors that let you listen to and identify bats as they come out for the evening! These events are popular so registration required. Just 17 minutes north of the Gaylord KOA, the PRDC is a wonderful place to spend a few hours!
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Downtown Gaylord Summer Concert Series
Starts: 05/22/2026 - Ends: 05/22/2026
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Downtown Gaylord Summer Concert Series
Starts: 05/29/2026 - Ends: 05/29/2026
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Downtown Gaylord Summer Concert Series
Starts: 06/05/2026 - Ends: 06/05/2026
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Downtown Gaylord Summer Concert Series
Starts: 06/12/2026 - Ends: 06/12/2026
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Downtown Gaylord Summer Concert Series
Starts: 06/19/2026 - Ends: 06/19/2026
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Downtown Gaylord Summer Concert Series
Starts: 06/26/2026 - Ends: 06/26/2026
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Downtown Gaylord Summer Concert Series
Starts: 07/03/2026 - Ends: 07/03/2026
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Downtown Gaylord Summer Concert Series
Starts: 07/10/2026 - Ends: 07/10/2026
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Downtown Gaylord Summer Concert Series
Starts: 07/17/2026 - Ends: 07/17/2026
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Downtown Gaylord Summer Concert Series
Starts: 07/24/2026 - Ends: 07/24/2026
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Downtown Gaylord Summer Concert Series
Starts: 07/31/2026 - Ends: 07/31/2026
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Downtown Gaylord Summer Concert Series
Starts: 08/07/2026 - Ends: 08/07/2026
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Downtown Gaylord Summer Concert Series
Starts: 08/14/2026 - Ends: 08/14/2026
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Downtown Gaylord Summer Concert Series
Starts: 08/21/2026 - Ends: 08/21/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 05/23/2026 - Ends: 05/23/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 05/30/2026 - Ends: 05/30/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 06/06/2026 - Ends: 06/06/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 06/13/2026 - Ends: 06/13/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 06/20/2026 - Ends: 06/20/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 06/27/2026 - Ends: 06/27/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 07/04/2026 - Ends: 07/04/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 07/11/2026 - Ends: 07/11/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 07/18/2026 - Ends: 07/18/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 07/25/2026 - Ends: 07/25/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 08/01/2026 - Ends: 08/01/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 08/08/2026 - Ends: 08/08/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 08/15/2026 - Ends: 08/15/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 08/22/2026 - Ends: 08/22/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 08/29/2026 - Ends: 08/29/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 09/05/2026 - Ends: 09/05/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 09/12/2026 - Ends: 09/12/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 09/19/2026 - Ends: 09/19/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 09/26/2026 - Ends: 09/26/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 10/03/2026 - Ends: 10/03/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 10/10/2026 - Ends: 10/10/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 10/17/2026 - Ends: 10/17/2026
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Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Gaylord
Starts: 10/24/2026 - Ends: 10/24/2026
